The Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) happens every year in mid February. The four-day event is free and is open to bird watchers of all ages and skill levels.
Tens of thousands of people from all around the world participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count each year. Each year participation gets bigger as more and more people become interested in bird watching and word spreads about the count.
You can count in your backyard, off your balcony, in a local park, or at a nature center. You count for as little as 15 minutes on one day or for as long as you like during any of the days of the event.
It's easy to participate. You tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any time. Then you fill out an online checklist at the Backyard Bird Count website.
Then you'll get to see the results by state as the information is updated.
Download a Great Backyard Bird Count Instruction Sheet.
The Backyard Bird count is a great way to get kids into birding. Involve the whole family!
See all the beautiful bird photos submitted by GBBC participants in the GBBC Photo Gallery.
If you need help identifying the birds you see, Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website is a great resources.
For quick ID assistance during the count, try posting a photo with a request for identification assistance to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Facebook page or the Great Backyard Bird Count Facebook page.
And, of course, everyone interested in birds should have a good field guide or two. Favorites are the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, and The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
